Fulham 2 Crystal Palace 4 (U21s) Friendly Obviously trying to give as many players as possible a run out, including come backs for Max Obeshmidt and Chris David and youngster Magnus Norman being given a step up. The team was: Oberschmidt (Norman 46), Passley, Buatu (Arthurworrey 46), O’Reilly (Grimmer 46), Kavanagh (Richards 46), Della Verde, Trialist (Minkwitz 46), Vigen Christensen, Plumain, David, Tankovic. "After going behind to an excellent free-kick, the Whites responded through Ange-Freddy Plumain, although they found themselves 4-1 down as Palace turned the screw in the second half. Fulham did pull one back through Lyle Della Verde’s sublime strike, but there wasn’t enough time remaining to attempt a fightback as the Eagles left Motspur Park with the victory. The away side began the game strongly and squandered a great opportunity in the third minute. Quade Taylor threaded a ball in to Osman Sow in the area who squared it to Sullay Kaikai, but the giant striker placed his effort wide when hitting the target was the minimum required. The Whites responded quickly and a neat one-two between Muamer Tankovic and Lasse Vigen Christensen almost created a shooting chance two minutes later but the ball was smuggled behind for a corner. Following that set-piece, Della Verde tried his luck with a powerful effort that Palace goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons managed to claim at the second attempt, with the visitors then going up the other end and sending Sow scampering clear, but Max Oberschmidt was out quickly to beat him to the ball. But the next attempt found the back of the net, and in some style too. The Eagles won a free-kick 25 yards out and Ibra Sekajja stepped up to plant a sumptuous effort into the postage stamp of the goal. Tankovic sent a speculative effort wide five minutes later when he controlled Della Verde’s cross on his chest with his back to goal and sent an ambitious overhead-kick a yard off target. It was 10 minutes before the next chance of note and it again fell the way of the hosts as Della Verde drilled a curling effort some way wide. And the winger was involved again shortly after as he stood up a brilliant cross to the far post that Plumain headed downwards, only to see Fitzsimons push it behind for a corner. Fulham were rewarded for their dominance just after the half-hour mark with the equaliser arriving after Josh Passley made a driving run before squaring to Vigen Christensen. He, in turn, fed Freddy Plumain who struck a composed finish across the keeper and into the far corner of the net. Palace looked to regain their lead before the interval but efforts from Kaikai and Sow were never hitting the target, although they came very close four minutes after the restart when a free-kick was flicked on and drew a fine reflex stop from substitute keeper Magnus Norman who tipped it onto the post. Their advantage was restored moments later, though, when left-back Alex Wynter galloped forwards and hit an unstoppable strike across Norman and into the far top corner of the net. And the Eagles had their third not long after when Kaikai bullied Jack Grimmer off the ball in the area before playing a simple pass to the waiting Derek Tieku who made no mistake from 12 yards. Della Verde offered a response three minutes later but saw his powerful shot beaten away by Fitzsimons, before Tieku drew a stop from Norman at the other end. With a quarter of an hour remaining, Tankovic hit a well-struck effort from distance that had plenty of curl, but not quite enough for it to bend back on target as it sailed wide of the far post, before Chris David shot straight at Fitzsimons who held the strike comfortably. Palace’s fourth goal arrived with five minutes remaining when Gus Sow twisted and turned in the area before squeezing the ball under Norman, although the Whites grabbed another consolation when Lauri Della Verde cut in from the right and sent a fine effort over the keeper and into the top corner. Former Fulham Academy member Tieku then smashed the game’s final opportunity wide in stoppage time."
Fulham 0 Arsenal 1 (Barclays U21 Cup) Unbeaten Record Goes to Gooners in Cup Ex-player Frimpong and Oxlade-Chamberlain were in a strong Arsenal line-up tonight. Our U21s had to rely on a new CB partnership (Stephen Arturworrey and Jack Grimmer having gone on loan). The team was: Joronen; Pritchard, Donnelly, Buatu, Richards; Della Verde, Christensen, Minkwitz; Plumain, Tankovic, Dembele Subs: Oberschmidt, O’Reilly, Islamovic, Sambou and Banya. The first chance went to Fulham when, after 5 minutes, the Tank slipped a lovely pass to Moussa Dembele only to see him blast it over the bar. Arsenal got the next one though with a lively Ox-Chamberlain going close. In a pretty even game, recent first team debutants Lasse Vigen Christensen and Freddy Plumain were on form but it was Liam Donnelly who made our next chance on the half hour, with a cross that just evaded Freddy and Moussa. Arsenal started to get a toe hold and only a terrific save by Jesse Jorenen from a header kept them out. He followed that up with another couple of fine saves. Just before half time Ronny Minkwitz got himself free in the Arsenal box but his shot got blocked. It was that man Jorenen though who kept it even steven 0-0 at half time. Great start to the second by Fulham with Freddy Plumain putting in a great cross and minutes later firing a shot just wide. Ox-C had a decent chance and then was subbed by Arsenal (don’t know why). And on the hour there was an almighty scramble in our box and one of them toe poked the ball high into the net. Arsenal up 1-0. Almost immediately Kit Symons brought on Charlie Banya for Moussa Dembele (again not sure why unless it was to try and get width on both wings - would have brought on Solomon Sambou for Della Verde to get midfield back). A strong Arsenal side stayed on top however; one goal ruled out for offside and numerous saves from Jesse. Five minutes from the end Dino Islamovic came on for Della Verde. In a last minute burst Liam Donnelly forced their goalie to make a save and a Dino header hit the post. Really unlucky not to equalise but there it is - Arsenal win 1-0.
The goal that gave the game to the Arsenal - [video=youtube;5pEfGQWFLuM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pEfGQWFLuM&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Fulham 1 West Ham 0 (U21s) Unbeaten League Run Continues The U21s had a fairly comfortable evening with a win that makes it 12 wins and 4 draws out of 16 games played. The team was: Stockdale; Zverotic, Donnelly, Buatu, Richards; Pritchard, Christensen, David; Mesca, Tankovic, Della Verde On the bench were two U18s getting their first step up; Emerson Hyndman and Jordan Evans. The other subs were Marcus Norman, George Williams and Charlie Banya. Fulham kept control virtually from the start with some fine passing but failed to make any real threat in the final third. The nearest in the first twenty minutes was a free kick from David that went wide. David a couple of times and Della Verde had shots blocked and then ten minutes before half time another one by Della Verde was a half block, half ricochet that went into the net. So at half time Fulham went in 1-0 up having played nice enough football but not exactly exciting enough to warm the ‘cockles’ on a freezing night. No sooner into the second half and the Tank missed an absolute sitter. And not his night as he squandered a couple of further chances. Not a lot of excitement until David hit the bar about twenty five minutes in. George Williams then came on for Lyle Della Verde. David skied a couple over the bar and Zverotic had a shot saved. Jordan Evans came on for his U21 debut, replacing a very quiet Mesca ten minutes from the end and shortly after Emerson Hyndman for his debut as David came off. Five minutes from the final whistle Stockdale had to make his only real save of the game. And that was it - a scrappy goal won the match but in reality the team were never troubled.
I see that the Tank is a rumored transfer target for Liverpool,could not make it this evening ,but glad to see one of my future tips Emerson making it into the under 21 squad. Any idea how he performed Cottager.
Emerson was only on for about 10 minutes rosc, and it was the only spell in the game that West Ham had any pressure so couldn't really say one way or the other. PS The Tank was pants - he missed three absolute sitters. In fairness to him, the out and out striker is not his best position but nonetheless .. ! Maybe all the scouts present put him off??
And here is the winning goal - apparently it's being given as an o.g. [video=youtube;Zjtw0OyWRkk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Zjtw0OyWRkk[/video]
I notice Mesca set it up, thought he had gone back to Crewe?? Didn't seem to spend long with the railway men
C58, who are the wingers in our under 21 squad? Given the lack of competition for our wingers in the first team squad (e.g. no-one to compete with Kaca), is there another youngster who could/should get a run out on the left wing against Sheffield United?
Surlyc. Re " above question, the most obvious choice is our highly rated and much sought after Patrick Roberts,but at barely 17 maybe a tad to young. The 2 others that could be in contention are Islamovic & Tankovic although not reconised wingers have both played in that position,and have pace.
Freddy Plumain is the obvious one on the left wing Surly. He's very pacy and skillful, but shows lack of experience/judgement in his final ball (very like Kaca in that respect!). He wasn't playing in the game against West Ham and I'd fully expect him to get a game against Sheffield.
Is Plumain the player who we were threatened with a transfer embargo for? The fella from Lens? I can't remember...
Yeah, he was Bidley. Seems as though the threats were all puff and wind - he signed a contract with us till 2016.
Speaking of contracts, how has the club allowed so many of the youngsters contracts to run so close to expiring without renewing them. I think the likes of Tankovic, Christensen, Minkwitz, Brister, Kavanagh, Richards, Islamovic, Oberschmidt and probably a few more are all up at the end of the season. Surely we're not going to let them go at the end of the year having gotten a few of them so close to the first team?
Excellent point FI and raises serious concerns over the Club's youth policy. And perhaps more worrying, what seems to have become a consistent (and in my view wrong) approach to contracts in general. In the last two seasons a significant number of contracts have simply been allowed to run down and the players, both senior and junior, released without any payback for the Club.
Yeah I've noticed that. Even the likes of Dembele who is an obvious talent only got a contract until 2015 which means we'll be in the same position again next year. How can the club give Scott Parker a 3 year deal at his age and only offer youngsters with their best years ahead a one or two year contract? If we do get relegated and Arsenal and Liverpool come calling for Tankovic on a free then all the Academy's hard work is undone.
I may have this wrong, but with players under the age of 23, they don't move for free at the end of a contract. Admittedly, the compensation paid would be decided by a third party and would probably be less than we could demand if they were under contract - so your main point is still a good one - but I don't think we lose them for nothing, unless we choose to release them.
You only get compensation if you have offered them a contract and they have turned it down. The compensation is only to cover the cost of coaching them so it's very very little. It probably wouldn't even cover what we paid to get these overseas youngsters here.
Yes. As I said, your main point still applies. It's hard to see why we're putting ourselves in this position.
